According to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, the Bucs wonít be extending Freemanís contract, which expires after the 2013 season. And as Stroud explains it, the decision not to sign Freeman to a new deal could be part of a plan by coach Greg Schiano, who inherited Freeman, to get his own quarterback. And Freeman may change Schianoís mind only by playing so well this season that Freeman leaves the Bucs with no other option than to use the franchise tag or sign him to a long-term deal.

One possibility would be to apply the non-exclusive tag and to see if anyone is willing to sign Freeman to an offer sheet and give up a pair of first-round picks. That would enable the Bucs to pull a reverse Keyshawn, giving up a player and getting two first-round picks 14 years after they gave up two first-round picks to get Keyshawn Johnson from the Jets.

The Bucs likely would settle for less, since the alternative will be to let Freeman walk away.

"He had no teeth, and he was slobbering all over himself. I'm thinking, 'You can have your money back, just get me out of here. Let me go be an accountant." I can't tell you how badly I wanted out of there."Denver rookie QB John Elway, on Jack Lambert, after Lambert and the Steelers knocked Elway out of his first game as a pro (1983).

"He had no teeth, and he was slobbering all over himself. I'm thinking, 'You can have your money back, just get me out of here. Let me go be an accountant." I can't tell you how badly I wanted out of there."Denver rookie QB John Elway, on Jack Lambert, after Lambert and the Steelers knocked Elway out of his first game as a pro (1983).